Environmental Assessment Report. FDA Foods Program: Non-0157 Shiga Toxin-Producing E. Coli (STEC). Enviornmental Assessment. Findings and Potential Preventive Control Strategies

摘要

An environmental assessment1 is an investigation that is triggered by an outbreak of foodborne illness or a food contamination incident. The purpose of the assessment is to determine how the environment may have contributed to the introduction and transmission of pathogens or other hazards that caused illness or contamination. FDA works with the involved firm and the appropriate government agencies in conducting such an investigation. FDA analyzes the evidence and makes conclusions about relevant potential preventive controls. FDA also determines if any regulatory action is needed with regard to the involved firm, or if information was learned during the assessment that warrants other measures. This report summarizes the investigation that was conducted into the factors that FDA considers to have been the most likely contributors to a 2010 foodborne illness outbreak, including possible contributing factors, possible root causes and identification of potential preventive controls to avoid future outbreaks. This environmental assessment was conducted in response to a multi-state foodborne disease outbreak investigation involving 33 cases of E. Coli O145 infection in five states in the spring of 2010. An epidemiologic investigation found that the illnesses were associated with the consumption of shredded romaine lettuce processed at one firm in Ohio. FDAs investigation at the processor did not identify a likely source of contamination at the firm. FDA conducted a traceback investigation from the processor that led to the farm that is the subject of this report.